Totally Booked with Zibby

Latest Episodes:

Bonny Reichert, HOW TO SHARE AN EGG: A True Story of Hunger, Love, and Plenty Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Bonny Reichert—chef, award-winning journalist, and daughter of a Holocaust survivor—joins Zibby to discuss HOW TO SHARE AN EGG, a transformative, beautifully written culinary memoir about the relationship between food, family, sustenance, and survival. Bonny shares how growing up in the shadow of her father’s Holocaust survival shaped her identity and how food became the vehicle for telling his story. She describes the power of recreating lost family recipes, the emotional challenges of writing about trauma, and the ordinary struggles of life—parenting, loss, and reinvention.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4130CJQ

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cynthia Weiner, A GORGEOUS EXCITEMENT: A Novel Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

Zibby interviews debut author Cynthia Weiner about A GORGEOUS EXCITEMENT, a dazzling, chillingly compelling coming-of-age story about 18-year-old Nina Jacobs’ summer of infinite possibility in 1980s Manhattan, inspired by the author’s teen years and real-life acquaintance with the Preppy Killer. Cynthia talks about her personal connection to the case, her experiences growing up in the preppy Upper East Side social scene, and how she wove themes of longing, identity, and vulnerability into her novel. She also delves into the impact of parental presence, the euphoria and danger of young love, and the pressures of fitting in.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4aXWcbE

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raphael Shore, WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG, BAD JEW: Learning to Love the Lessons of Jew-Hatred Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

Acclaimed filmmaker and human rights activist Rabbi Raphael Shore chats with Zibby about WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG, BAD JEW, a bold, eye-opening exploration of the world’s oldest consistent form of hatred: antisemitism. Rabbi Shore shares his personal journey—from growing up in a secular Jewish family in Canada to discovering a profound connection to Judaism in Israel. He challenges conventional explanations of antisemitism, explores Hitler’s ideology, and flips the narrative to highlight the strength, mission, and enduring impact of the Jewish people.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4b3J8Bx

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Dr. Alexandra Sowa, THE OZEMPIC REVOLUTION: A Doctor's Proven Plan for Success to Help You Reverse Obesity, End Yo-Yo Dieting, and Protect Yourself from Disease Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Alexandra Sowa, a trailblazer in obesity medicine, joins Zibby to discuss her groundbreaking new book, THE OZEMPIC REVOLUTION, and the life-changing impact of GLP-1 medications on weight loss, metabolic health, and overall well-being. They dive into the history of these drugs, their growing list of medical applications, and the challenges of affordability and accessibility. Zibby shares her personal experience with the medication, and they explore the psychological shifts that come with appetite suppression, including how to redefine pleasure beyond food. Dr. Sowa also highlights the need to address systemic weight bias and rethink obesity as a biological—not willpower-based—condition.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Xoe8qz

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen Fielding, BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY and BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

NEW MOVIE OUT NOW! Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Helen Fielding, British journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and creator of the beloved fictional character Bridget Jones, joins Zibby to celebrate the 25th anniversary edition of BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY, the #1 bestselling book that defined the 20th century. Helen shares the unexpected origins of Bridget—born from an anonymous newspaper column written simply to pay the bills—and how her honest, exaggerated take on single life struck a universal chord. She and Zibby discuss humor as a coping mechanism, the changing landscape of workplace sexism, and why Bridget’s self-deprecating charm continues to resonate across generations. Helen also teases the upcoming film adaptation of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, touching on how Bridget navigates love, loss, and aging with her signature wit.

Purchase on Bookshop:

Bridget Jones's Diary: https://bit.ly/4jUmiQW

Mad About the Boy: https://bit.ly/4hVpCcQ

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kareem Rosser, WHEN YOU'RE READY: A Love Story Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

Author Kareem Rosser joins Zibby to discuss (for the first time publicly) his unforgettable and heartrending new memoir, WHEN YOU’RE READY. Kareem talks about the love of his life, Lee Lee, revealing how their magnetic connection and shared love of horses and riding brought them closer despite their vastly different backgrounds. In a heartbreaking turn, Kareem recalls the devastating call he received in 2016 after Lee Lee suffered a catastrophic riding accident. He shares how his life shifted profoundly as he became Lee Lee’s unwavering support system and touches on his silent battle with grief, anxiety, and depression.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3EmYR2j

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Jojo Moyes, WE ALL LIVE HERE: A Novel Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes returns to the podcast to discuss WE ALL LIVE HERE, a warm and witty new novel about a woman and her unruly blended family. She and Zibby delve into the novel’s rich layers—from single mom Lisa's messy, heartfelt journey to the unique pain of teenage friendship fallout and the surprising love stories of older characters. Jojo shares her insights on writing humor in dark times, the evolving nature of family, and why laughter is essential for survival.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3Eusnn3

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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Josh Plasse, DUST: A Novel Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Zibby chats with Hollywood actor, producer, and debut novelist Josh Plasse about DUST, the first installment of his propulsive, action-packed fantasy saga. Josh shares how this book came to be, touching on how childhood memories—like collecting sea glass with his mother—inspired the magical elements of his world. He delves into the meticulous process of crafting DUST, from structuring it like a screenplay to developing his three main characters, each grappling with morality, power, and identity. He also talks about his love of fantasy, the unexpected connection that helped him break into publishing, the humbling editing process, and the pressures of comparing his work to others.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4jIqRxt

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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Jessica Soffer, THIS IS A LOVE STORY: A Novel Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Zibby chats with author Jessica Soffer about THIS IS A LOVE STORY, a beautiful, delicately radiant New York love story spanning 50 years that tenderly and suspensefully captures deep truths about life and marriage. Jessica delves into the novel’s layered perspectives, including the love story of Abe and Jane, their son Max’s struggles with intimacy, and the presence of Central Park as a silent witness to countless relationships. She shares the evolution of the book’s structure, the inspiration behind its fragmented, lyrical style, and how teaching writing has shaped her own craft. The conversation also touches on the power of place, the impact of great teachers, and life as a writer in Sag Harbor.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3EheVmm

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

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Victoria Christopher Murray, HARLEM RHAPSODY Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Zibby is joined by New York Times bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray to discuss HARLEM RHAPSODY, a powerful, stunning novel that resurrects the memory of Jessie Redmond Fauset, the strong-willed literary editor who ignited the Harlem Renaissance. Victoria shares how Fauset discovered and mentored literary greats like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen yet was largely forgotten by history. She describes Fauset’s career, struggles in publishing, and secret love affair with WEB Du Bois—and the extensive research that helped bring her story to life.

Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/40G3V9s

Share, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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